has anybody flown w/firearms since the most recent terrorist attempt?

[mountainpharm]

Just wondering if the "enhanced security measures" were affecting those of us who fly with firearms. Did you notice any additional delays, screenings, etc?

 

[CoRoMo]

Since no laws have been changed regarding flying with firearms, I'd guess that the "enhanced security measures" don't affect a gun toting traveler any more than it is affecting every other passenger.

 

[mgkdrgn]

Why should there be? Flying with a firearm in checked baggage is no more "dangerous" than flying with Jello Pudding pops.

 

[GodGuns&Guitars]

I'll let you know shortly after the 1st. I fly from Denver to Texas on New Years day and I must say it concerns me a bit, but will find out for sure Friday.

 

[LemmyCaution]

I don't fly anymore. The restrictions and hassle were too great after 2001. These most recent restrictions have only further cemented my resolve. I'm currently en route from Denver to Vermont by car. Not only is it cheaper for us to drive,, it doesn't really take much longer, when one considers the drive to and from the airport, the wait at security, the inevitable late flights, missed connections and lost baggage.

And to top it off, I'm going home with two more guns than I left with, with no additional checked baggage fees!

 

[scoutsabout]

Mmm... jello pudding pops...

Yeah, unless I'm traveling really far... I'm driving.

 

[Kentucky]

I flew out of nashville with two Glocks on the 27'th, two days after, and I didnt notice any new or unusual security measures. They didnt even ask me to open the case and verify they were unloaded.

 

[wishin]

Since no laws have been changed regarding flying with firearms, I'd guess that the "enhanced security measures" don't affect a gun toting traveler any more than it is affecting every other passenger.

You'd be right if we weren't dealing with an administration that finds it necessary to call a terrorist caught red-handed an alleged bomber.

 

[psyopspec]

These most recent restrictions have only further cemented my resolve.

What restrictions? I haven't seen anything come up, but then I'm kind of out of the loop.

Are you serious about CO to VT being comparably fast by car? I was about to tee off on this, but now that I think about it, you're right this one time. When one wishes to go from the city of Denver to Denver International Airport, one has to drive for a while. Not sure, but I think DIA is in Wyoming somewhere.

Anyway, no additional restrictions here. Magazine in, chamber empty, weapon pointed at the floor and it's good to go. Blackhawk pilots are just as cocky as ever.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

They need to focus on the on walk-on-boad-with-bomb-bombers rather than the locked-in-luggage-empty-gun transporters...........

 

[X-Rap]

Still pissed about the terms alleged and attempted. It seems that aside from actually bringing down the plane it was a successful attack.
Americans are fighting every day in foriegn lands and HLS says its an isolated attempt.
And TSA wants to add another layer of stupid restrictions to make the honest public have a more difficult time than it already has.

 

[cauberallies]

I flew from Denver to Pittsburgh (with a layover in Chicago, my least favorite city in the US for reasons I'm sure you all can guess) on the 24th, and although this post doesn't directly apply to the topic, I am VERY thankful I decided to come home on the 24th as opposed to the 25th, as I had originally planned. I'm sure there was a lot of stress and tension, and delays I'd imagine, in airports and airplanes that day.

My girlfriend actually just landed in Pittsburgh about 20 minutes ago after flying the same route, and she said that if security was increased, she couldn't tell.

My AMD 65 was supposed to accompany me on the trip, as we planned to do some shooting out there, but I could not get a straight answer from Southwest regarding my layover in Chicago, and if I could face any legal problems by bringing a big, scary, cop killing, school shooting assault weapon AK-47 with high capacity banana clips and armor piercing capabilities meant for nothing other than spraying and praying and killing innocent people, into Chicago, albeit for a short layover in which I would have no access to the rifle. Time was running short, and I had more important things to worry about than bringing a gun with me, so I decided to leave it at home.

 

[CountGlockula]

Just go by the firearm rules of your airline and you should be good to go.

I'll by flying to my new home in TX this week with two pistols. Declaring them unloaded at the check in with boxed ammo.

 

[Rio Laxas]

I flew to Alaska on Dec. 29th with a case of handguns. There did not seem to be any additional restrictions.

 

[Browns Fan]

I can remember flying back from Stuttgart in '92 with 2 handguns in a locking case and had no problem with it. Those days are probably long gone.

 

[rhenriksen]

I started to check in today at Portland, ME. For the first time, the airline ticket agent actually asked me to show her that the mag & chamber were empty! Haven't experienced that before.

But before I took my checked luggage over to the bag scanner, we determined it was futile to try & fly today. Major weather problems on the east coast. So I'll try again tomorrow at Logan.

 

[GRIZ22]

Why should there be any additional restrictions? Does anyone think a terrorist is going to declare a checked firearm?

I flew out of KCI earlier this year. I declared my firearm and was at the security checkpoint when the screener (not a TSA guy but contract private security who do the screening) wanted me to open my locked guncase because he "thought" he saw a hidden compartment there. I opened it and commented it would be really stupid to try to conceal something in a case with a declared firearm in it. He felt a bit stupid but looked and poked around to act like he knew what he was doing.

 

[swinokur]

Why should there be any additional restrictions? Does anyone think a terrorist is going to declare a checked firearm?

I flew out of KCI earlier this year. I declared my firearm and was at the security checkpoint when the screener (not a TSA guy but contract private security who do the screening) wanted me to open my locked guncase because he "thought" he saw a hidden compartment there. I opened it and commented it would be really stupid to try to conceal something in a case with a declared firearm in it. He felt a bit stupid but looked and poked around to act like he knew what he was doing.

Do you mean the security checkpoint where your carry on is x-rayed and you go through the metal detector or the TSA scanner for checked bags? A checkpoint usually means the former. No way you should have had a locked handgun case at the security checkpoint. Just need clarification.

 

[hirundo82]

The new restrictions are mostly for passengers flying in from overseas. Several blogs have the TSA memo posted.

I flew back to the US from Europe on the 30th (no guns, of course), and they didn't even seem to be following the restrictions then. They did a full check of our carry-on bags at the gate and everyone got patted down (although it wouldn't have detected a bomb hidden in underwear as in the most recent attempt). They did not enforce the rules about staying in you seat and not having any personal items in your lap for the last hour (I was reading one of Jeff Cooper's books the entire approach).

 

[GRIZ22]

Do you mean the security checkpoint where your carry on is x-rayed and you go through the metal detector or the TSA scanner for checked bags?

I mean the checkpoint where they xray the checked bags. My experience has always been check in counter and then to TSA baggage checkpoint with airline rep and bag in case TSA wants to look any further you will be there to unlock bag.

A checkpoint usually means the former.

Can mean passenger checkpoint, cargo checkpoint, or whatever you want to check checkpoint.

 

[rhenriksen]

Well, I re-checked my gear at Logan (Boston) yesterday, and it was a routine experience. No change from pre-underwear bomber.

I will say that my hard sided luggage (surplus 81mm mortar steel box) gets LOTS of hairy eyeball stares from general public & airline employees. But I look very clean-cut, middle aged, and relaxed about the whole thing. Haven't been tackled, or accosted by security, etc.

 

[SafeGuy]

I flew from Orlando to Knoxville on Dec 30th and there were no new security measures in place when I went through. In fact, I got through security at a record pace which really did surprise me.

Here's the kicker. When the flight boarding was announced (Air Tran), they informed passengers there would be two TSA agents doing random pat downs and searches of passengers as they came through.

The really dumb thing was watching these agents; one male, one female, pat down late teen/early 20's females who were wearing skin tight clothing with their mid sections exposed. It's like how the hell are they going to hide anything underneath that? I saw them do that with four such girls while I walked past wearing a jacket and a sweatshirt. Go figure.

 

[daskro]

Flew out of STL yesterday with no problems, although this was the first time flying US airways with a firearm and they asked to look at the firearm at the kiosk. TSA gave me no issue.